"Called, you didn’t answer."
"Contacted your assistant, asked for an appointment!"
"Time is pressing, please understand!"
Sittelberg breathed a sigh of relief, the oppressive tension caused by that business card finally broken.
"Alright, tell me why you’re here."
"I need you to extend an invitation from Atlantis University to the Imperial Capital University in the Great Xia Kingdom for an academic exchange!"
Griffin didn’t beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose.
"No problem, in half a year!"
As Sittelberg spoke, he handed over a schedule. Griffin was astonished upon seeing it, filled with the names of prestigious international universities in the order of their invitations!
Considering the timeline, indeed it could only be arranged six months later!
"Impossible!"
"Make it next week!"
Griffin’s tone was extremely decisive.
Not to mention half a year, even half a month was out of the question!
If the superhumans’ situation wasn’t clarified, things would only get more difficult in the future!
If superhumans had the ability to enhance themselves or duplicate abilities, a superpower legion could easily be formed in half a month!
The urgency of the situation allowed no delay!
Lin Beichen must be captured immediately for dissection and research!
Otherwise, by the time Great Xia had formed a superpower legion, Atlantis would still be fighting as ordinary humans.
This was absolutely unacceptable!
"You’re putting me in a difficult position. Those universities have already scheduled their dates, and inserting ourselves would damage Atlantis’s reputation."
"Besides, what exactly is so urgent that you need this arrangement?"
"I need to see your superior!"
Sittelberg revealed a long-forgotten sense of composure, confident in his top-tier negotiation skills. It wasn’t by chance that he became the dean.
Griffin, however, shook his head coldly. Mentioning the superior seemed to hit a sensitive spot.
His expression suddenly hardened, a pair of cold eyes fixed on Sittelberg.
"Take a look at this!"
Griffin handed his phone to him.
It showed a video of a woman with a six or seven-year-old girl playing on the beach, and a man in sunglasses stepped forward with a business card.
But the card wasn’t like Sittelberg’s, just an ordinary commercial one.
The man instructed the woman to call the number on the card.
Soon, Griffin’s phone rang.
Seeing the number, Sittelberg’s heart began to race!
His eyes widened, staring at the number, trying to press the answer button, but his hand was trembling.
Griffin, seeing this, answered the call for him.
A polite inquiry came from the other side, and Sittelberg froze upon hearing it.
His calm gaze at Griffin turned to one of terror!
The video showed his wife and daughter on a secret vacation spot, protected by Atlantis’s military!
Someone being able to approach them implied a deep connection!
His family’s military protection was granted because of his status at Atlantis University.
How could he not be shocked by Griffin’s power!
The woman on the phone asked a few questions and hung up without getting a reply.
Griffin put his phone away, returned to his seat, and sipped his coffee.
"I’m the team leader, Griffin. I’m the chief commander. If you insist on seeing my superior or investigating military contacts, I won’t hesitate to call them!"
Griffin’s tone turned icy, his gaze filled with murderous intent, but then he calmed down, resumed his composure, not releasing intense hostility.
"Cooperate with me, and you’ll be well-rewarded!"
"I can ensure your family’s additional protection by a killer organization!"
"And with the dean election next year, I can guarantee your re-election!"
"Money, I suppose you don’t lack, so I won’t mention it."
Griffin listed the conditions one by one.
Before coming, they had thoroughly investigated Sittelberg’s background, opting for a direct mix of coercion and incentives.
Thus, there was no need for the minister to intervene and risk exposing their organization.
Up until now, the minister’s identity remained largely unknown.
Sittelberg completely compromised, abandoning any facade, not daring to negotiate commercially with Griffin anymore.
"It seems I have no choice."
"What do I need to do?"
Griffin took out a list from his pocket and said:
"Invite the people on this list to the academic exchange!"
"Each name has been carefully selected for their academic achievements!"
Sittelberg glanced at the list, recognizing some names, having seen their academic papers and reports—some were indeed significant students.
The list contained about fifty names, plunging Sittelberg into deep thought.
...
...
In the Imperial Capital University principal’s office, Great Xia Kingdom.
An international call came through to Hao Jianhua’s office one morning.
Hao Jianhua initially thought it was a scam, intending to hang up, but a familiar voice spoke.
"Hi, old friend, it’s Sittelberg."
"Old friend, it’s been three years since we last met!"
Hao Jianhua, hearing the familiar voice, was still slightly suspicious.
This was Sittelberg, the dean of Atlantis University, a highly ranked university, not someone who’d call without reason.
"My old friend, I’m quite surprised you contacted me by phone."
The voice on the other end also found it unlikely, as their universities rarely interacted.
Sittelberg didn’t elaborate, knowing it wouldn’t be authoritative without verification.
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After some polite words, he hung up.
Shortly after, an officially certified email invitation from Atlantis University arrived at Imperial Capital University.
Hao Jianhua was shocked, skeptical of the authenticated mail.
"Could scams have gotten this advanced?"
"First a personal call, then an official email!"
Hao Jianhua murmured to himself, the situation puzzling him.
Atlantis and Imperial Capital had limited interactions, rarely engaged.
Nonetheless, Atlantis’s international prestige commanded Hao Jianhua’s respect.
After considering, he decided to check the email and called in the academy’s tech and cross-border communication departments for verification.
An entire afternoon of verification, confirmed via an official Atlantis press release, proved the invitation genuine.
Sittelberg, representing Atlantis University, formally invited Imperial Capital University for an academic exchange.
This worried Hao Jianhua; he knew Atlantis’s exchange schedule was booked for six months ahead.
Such a sudden invitation to Imperial Capital.
What was their real intention? He couldn’t figure it out.
Imperial Capital had just finished an exchange with Shenzhao University, a tight succession!
Hao Jianhua opened the email, scrutinizing every line. Attached was a list.
He scanned the list, awed by the inclusion of Imperial’s best students.
Academic exchanges needed top students to be meaningful!
"Could it really be just a regular academic exchange?"
Hao Jianhua pondered, until seeing one name stunned him.
"Lin Beichen!"
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m